Talking-sign.



* 110.833,73?. i PATENTBD APR. 7, 1908.

n L. R. PAIGB.

TALKING SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

:'No. 883,737, PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.

L. R. -PAIGR TALKING SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED EEBt 21| `1907.

2 slums-SHEET xa.4

LUCIUS R. PAIGE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TALKING-SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 190s.

Application filed February 21, 190;?. Serial No. 358,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LUorUs R. PAIGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the countyof Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Talking-Sign, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of si ns for advertising and similar purposes w ich are known as talking7 signs and which have a plurality of transparencies and means for successively displaying the same.

The principal objects of the invention are to construct a sign of this character in such a manner that when each transparency is displayed in its turn, an electric or other light placed at the rear of the same, will be caused to be lighted automatically and will be extinguished when the sign is withdrawn; also to provide simple and efficient means for holding the transparencies; for successively displaying the same, and for returning them to a position in which they cannot be seen; to provide a magazine for holding the transparencies ,when they are withdrawn from the position in which they are displayed, which will take up very little room in the sign; and generally, to improve and simplify the construction of signs of this general character.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a composite sign showing it as made up of a plurality of elements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of mechanism for operating the transparencies. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the individual signs shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The outside portion of the sign can be constructed in many ways but it is shown in the form of a box 10 having a transparent or translucent face 11 which may be of ground glass, celluloid, or any other desired material.

t is preferably translucent so that while the transparencies within the sign can be seen through it when illuminated, their manipulavtion therein will ,be concealed. The box preferably has a cover so that the interior may be accessible. As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of these boxes or their equivalent may be located adjacent to each other, each one adapted to exhibit one or more letters or words of a sign, or if desired, a single one can be used by itself, the transparencies within furnishing the entire word, sentence or design to be exhibited. lf a composite si n is desired, made up of several parts to e individually displayed, a single long box may be used having a plurality of means inside for operating the individual parts of the sign.

The device may be operated from any desired source of power, an electric motor 12 being indicated for this purpose. The motor, or other moving means, operates a gear 13 which meshes with a gear-wheel 14 mounted on a shaft 15 or drives the shaft in any other way. When a plurality of these devices are to be employed in connection with each other, located end to end, as shown in Fig. 1,

or when a single composite sign is to be constructed according to this invention this shaft preferably extends through all of them. It is to be understood that when a plurality of boxes are used, there is only one motor and `only one pinion 13 or other means for dividing the shaft, but there is a wheel 14 for each individual part of the complete sign, or in each box. Aside from its connection with the motorin one of the boxes, all of these wheels are substantially alike. From this point, one of the signs, or sign boxes alone will be described. The wheel 14 is provided with a series of pins 16 on one or both faces thereof, these pins being located at varying distances from the center of the wheel in such position that they can engage projections 17 extending from a series of arms 18 which are pivotally mounted on a rod 19 so that they may tilt from the full line to dotted line position of Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the projections 17 are at varying distances from the rod 19 corresponding to the paths of the several pins 16. This permits the arms to be operated in any desired way by the pins. If the pins are mounted in regular progression, as indicated in Fig. 3, the arms will be operated successively to tilt up and back in regular order. If it is desired to change the order, the pins may be correspondingly changed and in fact any one of the arms may be tilted two or more times during a single revolution of the wheel by placing two or more pins at the same distance from the center of the wheel.

Each arm 18 has a slot 20 opening downwardly so that the arms may be dropped into position in a very convenient manner, and as easily removed when the sign is to be changed.

As the projections 17 extend toward the wheel, from points at a distance therefrom, it will be seen that the pins both inside and outside these projections will pass by the same without engaging them when the wheel rotates. The arms 18 may be arranged in pairs if desired, as shown. When arrangedin pairs the arms of each pair are connected as by a frame 21. These frames are removably connected with the arms 18 as by set screws 22 so that they may be exchanged readily, and they may be of any desired shape but they are shown trapezoidal in form, each having a front bar 23 which is adapted to support a transparency 24, so that when an arm is tilted upwardly, it will display the transparency behind the face 11, and when it returns, it will drop the same out of sight. If it is desired to drop the transparencies down vertically so as to hang from the rods 23, they may be received by the iioor of the sign box, and means is provided on the floor for receiving the transparencies, and for holding the frames 21 in such position that the projections 17 will be properly located in the paths of their respective pins. I prefer to provide a magazine 25 having a series of chambers 26 therein for receiving the transparencies. This magazine may be placed orizontally on the floor of the sign box, in which case it is provided with a curved end 27 which is adapted to receive the transparencies and to support the rods 23 so as to hold the arms 18 in the manner described.

If a transparent plate 11 is provided, or if it is entirely omitted, the mechanism so far described, can be employed by itself to complete the whole sign, but I prefer to employ a translucent plate which will hide the transarencies unless the same are illuminated. iiV'hen this is done, a source of light 28 is provided in a convenient location to light up the sign. This is preferably in the form of an incandescent or other lamp Jlocated in a circuit 29 connected with a suitable source of electric power. In this circuit is located a switch 30 which is provided with a tilting member 31- adapted to close the switch and conduct power to the lamp when the tilting member is forced down and to open the same to extinguish the lamp at other times.

A counter-balance, which may be in the form of a weight 32, is provided for normally holding the switch open and this is located on an arm 33 in such position that the bars 23 or some other parts of the frames 21 will engage the same and force the switch into closed position when the transparencies are dis layed by elevating the same.

fl/'hile I have illustrated and described a extension, said extensions bei `means for holding it open, transparencies,

and a movable member adapted `to move upwardly to display a transparency, and to engage the switch directly when in its upward position sonas to move the switch to close the circuit ofthe lamp.

2. In a sign, the combination of an electric lamp, a switch for the circuit thereof having a pivoted lever provided with a counterbalance, a movable member, and a sign supported by said -movable member, said movable member being located below the lamp and switch and in such position as to engage the lever of the switch when moved upwardly to display the sign, whereby the lever will be raised to close the switch.

3. In a sign, the combination of movable members each adapted to display a trans' parency, an electric lamp, a switch having a tilting member for making and breaking the circuit to the lamp, and having counterbalancing means for normally keeping the switch open, said tilting member of the switch being located in position to be engaged by said movable members when they display their respective transparencies whereby the switch is closed.

4. In asign, the combination. of Ia substantially horizontal rod, two sets of arms pivotally mounted thereon, an arm of each set corresponding to van arm of the other set, a series of wires in trapezoidal form, the tWo ends of which are removably supported by two opposite arms, said arms having projections extending toward each other, and a wheel having means thereon for simultaneously engaging the two projections of the arms of one pair to tilt the same about the rod.

5. In a sign, the combination of a series of arms mounted to swing, said arms having rearwardly extending projections locatedat ydiierent distances from the center about which the arms swing, and a rotatable element having pins located at different distances from the center thereof and adapted to engage said projections successively during the rotation of said element.

6. A sign comprising a rod, a series of arms for holding transparencies, each swingingly mounted on said rod and each having an located at a plurality of different distances from said rod, and a plurality of elements movable in ,paths at correspondingly different distances from the rod for engaging said extensions and operl arms, said pins Abeing located at varying ating said arms.

7. In aj sign, the combination of a rotatable wheel, a series of pins arranged thereon at different distances from the center thereof, a rod located adjacent to said wheel, arms pivotally mounted on said rod and having projections extending different distances therefrom, eachv one in position to beengaged by one of said pins, and means for holding said arms in such position that the projections will lie in the path of said pins, said means comprising a magazine adapted to receive transparencies connected with said arms.

8. A sign, comprising movable arms for supporting transparencies, and arotatable wheel having pins thereon for engaging said distances from the center `of the wheel.

9. A sign having a horizontal magazine for supporting transparencies, said magazine having an upwardly turned `end from which the trans arencies may be lifted, and a series of Inova le arms for operating the transparencies, the upwardly turned end of said magazine constituting means for holding said arms in proper position for operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUCIUS R. PAIGE.

Witnesses:

CLARA F. DAKIN, CARL M. BLAIR. 

